Blinder for bridles.



N0. 686,698. Patented Nov'. I9, |9Ul. l

C. BAER.

BLINDER FOR` BRIDLES.

(Application tiled Apr. 26, 1901.)

(No Model.)

msyonms PETERS co. mum-mmc., wAsmNnvoN, n, c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

CHARLES BAER, OF MENDON, MICHIGAN.

BLINDER FOR BRIDLES.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,698, datedNovember 19, 1901.

` Application filed April 26, 1901. Serial No. 57,574. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

VBeit known that I, CHARLES BAER,a citizen of the United States,residing at Meudon, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Blinker orBlinder for Bridles, of whichlthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to blinkers or bliuders for bridles, and moreparticularly to that class wherein the blinkers are operable by thedriver to blindfold the horse when required.

The object of the invention is in a simple, thoroughly efficient, rapid,and at once perfectly humane manner to effect blindfolding of a horsewhen required, thereby to prevent runaways and other accidents caused bytimidity or viciousness of the animal.

The device of the present invention is designed to combine greatsimplicity of construction and efciency in use with cheapness ofproduction and ready adaptability to position on bridles of the ordinarymake Without necessitating any change in the structural arrangement ofthe same.

With the objects above stated in View the invention consists, generallystated, in combining with the cheek-strap of a bridle a rod or barmounted for rotary movement on the strap, the bar carrying near one enda blinker and at the opposite end an arm by which the rod may be rotatedto move the blinker inward to cover the animals eye, release of theblinker from the animals eye being effected automatically by a springcoaoting with the rod or bar. As a matter of specific improve ment theblinker is adj ustably connected with the rod or bar, thereby to permitthe blinker being adjusted to lit comfortably the horse on which thebridle may be used.

Further and more specic details of construction will be hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, andin which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, I haveillustrated a form of the embodiment of my invention capable of carryingthe same into eifective operation, it being understood that other formsof embodiment of the same may be employed without departing from thespirit of the invention, and in these drawingsmmoved. Fig. 3 is a viewin front elevation,

partly in section, displaying certain parts not clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the cheek-strap, 2 thehead-strap, 3 the nosestrap, and 4 the' throat-strap, of a bridle, whichmay be of any ordinary or preferred construct-ion. As the arrangement ofthese parts is Well understood, detailed description thereof is deemedunnecessary. Upon the cheek-strap l is secured a fiat strip of metal 5,this for the purpose of reinforcing a portion of the length ofcheek-strap to cause it when in use always to occupy a practicallystraight plane, the plate to be secured to the cheek-strap in anypreferred manner, as by being riveted thereto. The metallic strip may beof steel or any other preferredmetal; but by reason of its resiliencysteel would generally be preferred. Carried by the cheekstrap is a rodor bar 6, the same being supported on the plate 5 by bearings 7, thesebearings to be separate elements and to be secured to the plate 4, ormay be formed by bending the two extremities of the plate at rightangles to its length and providing these bent portions with orifices inwhich the rod will work. The plate 5 is of a length to extend but ashort distance above the horses eye, as it is requisite that the bridleshould be as flexible as possible, so as to render it easy andcomfortable for the animal to wear. While the plate is shown asextending but a short distance above the animals eye and terminating ata point adjacent to/the bitring, it is to be understood that it may beparting from the spirit of' my invention. Upon the upper portion/of therod or bar 6 is adjustably mounted the blinker 8, the same beingconstructed,prefei'ably, of leather and stamped or otherwise formed intoconcavoconvex shape/in -cross-section, thereby to cause it toc'onform tothe bulge of the forehead -over the animals eye, so that when closedinward it will effect complete blindfolding. The blinker is supportedupon the f,rod by a metallic plate or projection 9, which ,made longeror slightly shogter without del IOO may be secured to the blinker in anypreferred manner, the plate being provided with a head or guide throughwhich the rod or bar passes, a set-screw 10., carried by the plate 9,serving to hold the blinker at the desired adjustment on the rodrequisite to cause the blinker to effect proper coaction with the horseseye. The lower portion of the rod carries an arm or projection 11, whichis bent inward to lie back of the horses back jaw and curved upward tobe out of the way of the lines, the arm having attached to it a cord orstrap 12, leading to the driver. The arm may, as shown, be an integralpart of the rod or bar 6 or may be made as a separate element andsecured thereto.

As in the case of ordinary bridles, the blinkers will normally be out ofengagement with the animals eye, and to effect this the rod 6 carries acoiled spring 13, one end of which is firmly secured to the rod and theother end bears upon the plate 5. This spring not only serves to keepthe blinker normally out of engagement with the animals eye, but alsoeffects automatic return of the blinker to its normal position when ithas been turned 'by drawing upon the cord 12 when it is desired toblindfold the horse.

In the description given I have referred to but one blinker and one eachof the yparts coacting therewith, this being all that is necessary torender easy an understanding of the device, as it will be of courseunderstood that the parts are duplicated on each side of the bridle, sothat a description of one-half of the bridle will serve for both.

It is to be understood that in use both of the blinkers need not bebrought over the animalss eyes at the same time, as, if an object on theright-hand side of the road would be in danger of startling the animal,it might be necessary only to close the blinker on that side. In thecase of runaways or where the object frightening the animal is directlyin front both of the blinkers will be moved to cover the animals eyes.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that this device cannotfail to be thoroughly effective for accomplishing the objects designed,that by reason of its construction it will not give objectionable addedweight to the bridle nor objectionable added expense in the productionthereof, that it will be thoroughly humane in operation, not giving anypain to the animal, and that it will be sightly in appearance.

It is to be understood that While the form of blinker illustrated willbe that generally preferred I do not limit my invention to theparticular arrangement shown, as various other forms of blinkers may beemployed and still be within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. The combinationwith a cheek-strap of a bridle, of a plate secured thereto and providednear its upper and lower ends with bearings, a rod or bar mounted in thebearings and having its lower end curved upward and inward, a blinkeradjustably connected with the upper portion of the rod or bar, and acoiled spring on the rod, one end of which is housed in an opening inthe rod and the other end bears against the plate.

2. The combination with the cheek-strap of a bridle, of a metallic platesecured thereto, bearings carried by the plate, a rod or bar mounted forrotary movement in the bearings4 and having its lower end formed into anarm curved upward and inward from the rod or bar, a blinker having ashank connected with the rod or bar, and a set-screw carried by theshank to effect adjustment of the blinker on the bar, and a coiledspring carried by the bar, one end of the spring being housed in anopening in the bar and the other end bearing against the plate.

3. The combination with a bridle including a cheek-strap and a bit, of aplate secured to the cheek-strap and provided with bearings adjacent toits opposite ends, a rod mounted for rotary movement in said bearingsand provided with a crank-arm located at a point above the lower end ofthe cheek-strap, a blinker connected to the rod adjacent to the upperbearing and designed to be moved toward or from the eye of a horse bythe rotation of the rod, adjustable retaining means connecting theblinker to the rod in a manner to permit the adjustment of the blinkerlaterally or longitudinally with respect to the rod, and a'springencircling the rod to return the blinker to its normal position.

4. The combination with a bridle including a cheek-strap, of a metalplate secured upon said cheek-strap and terminating short of the endsthereof to retain the flexibility of said strap, bearing membersoutstanding from the plate adjacent to its opposite ends, a rodrotatably mounted in said bearings, and formed upon its lower end belowthe lower bearing with an arm curved upward and inward from the rod, ablinker provided with a shank having a sleeve encircling the rod, aset-screw carried by the sleeve and bearing against the rod tofacilitate the adjustment of the blinker either laterally orlongitudinally of the rod to accommodate the blinker to the eyes ofdicerent horses, and a spiral spring encircling the rod and secured atits opposite ends to the rod and plate, respectively, to return theblinker to its normal position.

In testimony that I claim the vforegoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES BAER.

Witnesses:

ALFRED BODIN, Enw. F. HACKMAN.

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